Mercilus won't talk NFL but not expected back

Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus hasn't publically tipped his helmet, when it comes to his future.

As a first-team All-America and the nation's leader with 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles, Mercilus earned the Hendricks Award as the nation's top college defensive end. He's a team leader and would be a valuable piece in coach Tim Beckman's plans next season.

"Sometimes I've got to take a minute and reflect on everything, just soak it all in,'' Mercilus said. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I've got to have fun with it."

But Mercilus is expected to declare for the NFL draft and has told people close to him that there's little chance he will return for his senior season. Illinois (6-6) plays UCLA (6-7) in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in AT&T Park Saturday (2:30 p.m., ESPN).

Meanwhile, Mercilus only told the media he would make a decision shortly after the bowl game when he gets an evaluation back from the NFL. Mercilius appears in some NFL mock draft first rounds, and it would be hard to duplicate his success this season, so the time might be right.

Mercilus will communicate with former coach Ron Zook and work his former coach's contacts in the NFL, and Mercilus already met with Beckman.

His big season came from following the plan of Illini defensive coordinator Vic Koenning.

"Whitney is a great lesson in doing what you're supposed to do, and then plays come to you,'' Koenning said. "Whitney was steady Eddie.''

Koenning didn't want to compare Mercilus to DeMarcus Ware, a former first-round pick coached at Troy by Koenning, but Mercilus followed Ware's path.

"He was always the first one on the practice field,'' Koenning said. "He practiced hard and did things the right way. In that respect, there are similarities.''

Said Mercilus: "I always wanted to show the coaches I knew my responsibilities.''

RUNNING BACK: With fullback Jay Prosch out with a staph infection in his knee, the Illini scrapped a plan to go heavily with the option against UCLA, Koenning said.

"That plan went down the tubes when Jay got hurt,'' Koenning said.

The Illini practiced backup quarterback Miles Osei at running back as a precaution this week after senikor running back Jason Ford was declared academically ineligible. Freshman Donovonn Young and senior Troy Pollard will handle the bulk of the carries.

THE PISTOL: UCLA uses the pistol offense, and Koenning developed a plan while also talking with Dan Disch, the Southern Mississippi defensive coordinator and former Illini assistant who will work under Koenning at North Carolina next season.

"We're the hunted,'' said Koenning, whose defense is ranked seventh nationally. "It will be interesting to see how the defense responds to being the hunted. That's going to be an interesting dynamic.''

NOTABLE: The Illini sold less than 2,000 tickets, but there will likely be many more fans in orange who bought their tickets through the bowl game rather than the Illini ticket office. . .

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnSupinie.